Keep working together s Officials must focus on Island Grove improvements

We’re glad to see the three main players in protecting the life of Island Grove Regional Park get back on track.

There has been wrangling among these groups — the city of Greeley, the Weld County Commission and the Stampede Committee — over improvements that must be made at park facilities and how the bills will be paid.

Thankfully, conciliation appears to be at work. Specifically, in the past two weeks:

* The city of Greeley has signed a one-year lease with the Stampede Committee. Through negotiations, the city will get funds to help with proposed Island Grove renovations and upgrades. There is an expectation this is the first step toward establishing a longtime lease.

* Greeley and Weld County officials are working toward agreement over funding park improvement projects and prioritizing those plans. Previously, Weld commissioners were reluctant to commit to financing any park improvements. But a week ago, the groups agreed to pay for air conditioning and upgrading meetings rooms for the Events Center, an indoor arena, land acquisition and parking improvements.

Both city council and county commissioners must approve the agreement, but we see last week’s talks as a good faith process.

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Island Grove — referred to as the Jewel of Weld County — has long been in need of upgrades and added amenities. With the opening of Larimer County’s nearby The Ranch, competition for programs, conventions, entertainment and major events has become fierce.

This is, in fact, one of the reasons Island Grove improvements were part of the quality-of-life initiative approved by voters in 2002. For example, the lack of a cool building doing summertime conferences has kept some organizations from using the Events Center, Parks Director Ron Williams has said.

We encourage these key officials to continue their attitude of harmony and diplomacy. For example, one requirement before the city and council finalize any of their agreements is for the Stampede to return “Greeley” to its name. (Last fall, that committee announced plans to rename the historic, annual event the Rocky Mountain Stampede.) We expect the Stampede Committee to acquiesce considering the financial considerations it just made with Greeley.

Everyone’s expectations and plans are tied to the other two’s.

This is why we asks these leaders to keep the greater good of the community at the forefront of their thinking. We need a venue where any group coming to Greeley and Weld will feel welcome and know that its program will have the best time with the slickest accommodations — right in our back yard.